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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






2. Creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes.






3. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






4. The opening section of a piece of music or movement.






5. A symbol in sheet music a direction to play energetically.






6. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






7. Combination of two or more keys being played at the same time.






8. Time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries. Characterized by emotional - flowery music; written in strict form.






9. A string of chords played in succession.






10. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






11. A period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional - expressive - and imaginative style.






12. Group of singers in a chorus.






13. A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.






14. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






15. The study of forms - history - science - and methods of music.






16. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






17. Sliding between two notes.






18. Music composed such that each note is used the same number of times.






19. A composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes.






20. The unit of musical rhythm.






21. Pertaining to the fugue - the overlapping of the same theme or motif by two or more voices a few beats apart.






22. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






23. Successive notes of a key or mode either ascending or descending.






24. A dance written in triple time - where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure.






25. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






26. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






27. A reprise.






28. The piece of cane in wind instruments. The players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound.






29. A musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals. The individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches. The tune may also be played at different speeds - backwards - or inverted.






30. A combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments.






31. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






32. Closing section of a movement.






33. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






34. Two or three melodic lines played at the same time.






35. Refers to the tuning of an instrument.






36. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






37. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






38. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.






39. A form of music written for marching in two-step time. Originally the march was used for military processions.






40. Movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct.






41. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






42. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






43. A musical style characterized as excessive - ornamental - and trivial.






44. Word to indicate the movement or entire composition is to be played gracefully.






45. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






46. Either of the two octave arrangements in modern music. The modes are either major or minor.






47. A short piano piece - often improvisational and intimate in character.






48. An instrumental lament with praise for the dead.






49. The intonation - pitch - and modulation of a composition expressing the meaning - feeling - or attitude of the music.






50. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.